TNA Impact Wrestling TV taping
London, England at SSE Arena Wembley
Report by Dot Net staffer Haydn Gleed
Unlike the NXT event last month, one side of the arena was blocked off. The areas that were available were filled up nicely with an expectant crowd.
Jeremy Borash came out to a good ovation and high fives the fans at ringside. He geared up the crowd well. He announced that EC3 would get his rematch tonight, and they showed a video of EC3 talking from home. He said he realizes that sometimes he’s been a piece of shyt. He said he’s done all that because he’s addicted to wrestling. I’m guessing this is the video that will air this week on Impact. The crowd got restless during it and started woooo’ing which was a shame as it was a good promo.
1. James Storm and Bobby Roode beat Eric Young and Bram in a cage match. Storm came down on a motorized beer cart (nice). The action started outside the ring outside the cage and continued like that for a good five minutes. Eventually with Storm selling a Bram DDT on the outside, Bram and Young had Roode alone in the cage with the door shut. There were some nice near falls during the match before Beer Money got the victory. Despite some sloppy spots, lots of crowd pleasing moments and got the tapings off to a good start…
EC3 came out next to a mixed reaction, but was certainly playing a babyface by high-fiving the fans at ringside. He sat on the ring steps with a microphone. He said what better place to fight than in London. He said the steel structure separates the man from the boys. He took some fun verbal shots at Reby before promoting the title match later tonight. He stood mid-ring and called out Rockstar Spud, who came out wearing an awesome multicolored suit.
Once in the ring EC3 talked about their match last year and reminded him that he told him he had the biggest heart in the world. He offered Spud his hand. With the crowd cheering, Spud accepted. Spud said he did what he did last week because it’s the right thing. He said Matt Hardy is rotten to the core and he had the nerve to tell him what to do. He screamed that no one tells him what to do. He was infuriated by Hardy.
Matt Hardy screamed that the ring and the arena is his. The crowd were trying to be smart arses by chanting “We Want Jeff” so I couldn’t hear most of his promo. He concluded by telling EC3 that he will beat him tonight. Great stuff from all three men and it turned the crowd completley in favor of EC3…
2. Trevor Lee (w/Shane Helms) beat Tigre Uno in a cage match to retain the X Division Title. Tigre came out with heavy strapping on his shoulder. Helms introduced himself as the star power and Trevor Lee as the horsepower. He has the worst intro music I’ve ever heard. Lee busted open up his mouth early in the match. Tigre Uno came off the top of the cage with a crossbody, which caused someone behind me to scream just escape. Sure enough, Lee came back and won the match…
After the previous match, they brought out all kinds of weapons and hung them up on the cage for the first ever Knockouts Lethal Lockdown. I didn’t have high hopes for this. JB announced that Madison Rayne had been taken out by the dollhouse, so Gail Kim and Velvet sky would have to find a third partner. Jade from the Dollhouse made her entrance to no reaction followed by Gail Kim to a great reaction…
3. Jade, Marti Bell, and Rebel beat Gail Kim, Velvet Sky, and Maria in a Lethal Lockdown match. Jade went for a weapon first but was cut off. Some idiot obnoxious fans behind me shouted kiss. Marti Bell came out as the next entrant. She beat down Kim for a while. Pretty quickly Velvet Sky was introduced as the next entrant and gained the advantage on both heels. No weapons used so far. Rebel entered and knocked down both Kim and Sky. Rebel grabbed the baking tray ad smashed Kim in the head (Kim did get her hand up to block).
The surprise entrant for Kim and Sky was Maria, who ran to the ring teased climbing in the ring. However, with a smile she locked the door and mocked Kim. The Dollhouse chocked out Kim and Sky before hitting them with kendo sticks. The heels beat down the babyfaces but Kim and Sky came back and managed to get the upper hand. The crowd chanted this awesome, I couldn’t disagree with them more. The ending of the match came when Jade hit a pretty neat pile driver type maneuver. That was the only positive I can say for the match, which brutal and not in a good way despite the obvious effort put in by the five women. As Velvet walked up and he ramp, it looked like some fan pissed off Sky as she started jawing at an area of the crowd…
Kurt Angle came out to a thunderous and standing ovation. It was a stunning moment. He climbed in the ring and looked genuinely touched. He said this is his farewell tour, and he couldn’t be happier to have it anywhere than in the UK. He mentioned the match last year against Lashley, which brought the man himself out. Lashley climbed in the ring and said he can’t believe he is out here bragging about beating him, but like he told him he’s going to get revenge. He said he did that to motivate him and they would have one more match and he would get the revenge that he wants. Angle said he came out to talk to the fans but now he’s pissed off. He challenged him to a match on the spot. Lashley said carry on talking to your fans, our time will come, and with that he walked out of the ring. A surprisingly good promo by Lashley…
4. Odarg beat Eli Drake in a cage match. Drake grabbed a microphone and said Grado was fired so why is he running around with a mask calling himself Odarg. With that “Like a Prayer” played and the crowd exploded. Odarg climbed in the ring and was attacked by Eli Drake. Odarg tried to climb out of the ring but couldn’t reach the top and moved when Drake went for a punch. Eventually, Drake low blowed him. This led to Drake throwing Odarg around and against the steel cage. The end of the match came when Eli’s trunks where pulled slightly down exposing his rear end and Odarg hit a running somersault in the corner. Odarg climbed the cage and both men fought on top. Odarg went to drop down but as he did Drake grabbed his mask exposing him as Grado. Odarg ran to the back with a towel over his head. Fun but slightly silly match…
They announced that TNA is opening a wrestling school in London…
5. Matt Hardy (w/Tyrus) beat EC3 in a cage match to retain the TNA Title. EC3 came out to another great reaction, the fans have accepted the turn. The singing of his theme song has been the loudest thing on this taping outside of Angle. Hardy came out with Tyrus but without Reby. Matt climbed on the apron and jawed at EC3 and shared some words with Tyrus. The cage door closed and both men stood facing each other. They exchanged punches but Hardy got the early advantage. EC3 came back with multiple chops. Tyrus threw a chair in the ring, which Matt used to his advantage and had full control of the match until EC3 threw Matt head first into a chair setup in the corner.
At one point in the match, EC3 tried to walk out the door but Tyrus blocked his path. He called Tyrus in the ring and beat him down. Tyrus though eventually came back and knocked EC3 to the mat. He picked up a chain and chained EC3 to the ropes, however EC3 reversed it and got Tyrus chained in the ropes. With this distraction, Hardy snuck up from behind and hit a Twist of Fate for a near near near fall. Matt attempted to climb the cage but EC3 suplexed him off the cage.
Late in the match, EC3 low blowed Hardy, and the crowd got behind the former champion. Reby came down to the ring with a hammer, but Rockstar Spud ran down and took the hammer and threw it away. He opened the door for EC3 but then slammed it in his head. He helped Matt climb out of the cage to retain the title. The crowd chanted you sold out at Spud as he stood over EC3 with a chair and hit him in the head. Spud, Matt and Reby celebrated to finish the taping for the first show.
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As they took down the cage for the next taping, Dixie Carter came out and thanked the fans for all the fantastic support. The crowd chanted “Thank You, Dixie.” She said she had a surprise and introduced Billy Corgan. He asked if the crowd was having a good time. One guy near the ramp was jumping up and down like this was the greatest moment of his life…
1. The Wolves defeated Mandrews and Will Ospreay to retain the TNA Tag Titles. Mandrews made his skateboard entrance with will Osprey, a great reaction for the Cardiff boy. The Wolves made their entrance with the tag titles. They were wearing British inspired paint on the chest. A great back and for from all four men with some excellent spots. The action slowed down with The Wolves on offense with quick tags isolating Ospreay. Mandrews got the hot tag and came in with a huracanrana, but something went wrong and he laid motionless on the mat for a good 20 seconds. The ref held up the X sign. Mandrews tried to get to his feet but was unsteady and just managed to tag in Ospreay. After some back and forth, The Wolves won the match via pin fall. After the match, the medical team came rushing out for Mandrews (why they didn’t come out before I don’t know and, no, it didn’t look like a worked injury as you could see the wrestlers talking and improvising spots). The Wolves rushed over to check on Mandrews and helped him up and took him to the back. This had the potential to be a great match, but the injury derailed it somewhat…
2. Abyss (Crazzy Steve, Goth Girl) beat Jimmy Havoc in a Monster’s Ball match. Both men brawled early, standard Monster Ball style. Abyss introduced the cheese grater early but Havoc took it and raked quite hard against Abyss’s, um, little Joseph Park. Jimmy climbed to the top rope, but crazy Steve distracted him and Abyss pushed him off the top rope through the table. Abyss introduced Janice, who, of course, missed when he tried to use it and went through a table. Jimmy introduced a barbed wire board into the match. He struck Abyss a couple of times across the head with a kendo stick and went for the killer blow, but Abyss picked him up and hit a Black Hole Slam on Havoc through the barbed wire board. With Marilyn Manson playing, they stood over Jimmy. After the match local boy Havoc got a great reaction. A fun Monster’s Ball with semi dangerous but safe stunts…
Josh Matthews was introduced as he was doing commentary backstage. He kissed up to the fans and said that London was louder than Manchester at the tapings last night…
3. Mike Bennett (w/Maria) defeated Drew Galloway. Maria came out and told us that the UK is broken but she believes in miracles. With that Mike Bennett came out to little reaction. On the flip side, Drew Galloway made his entrance to a huge reaction. Bennett tried to run away but Galloway caught him and stomped him in the corner. Maria tried and failed to distract drew but he hit a big boot to Bennett. The action spilled to the outside where some fans held Bennett open out wide for Drew to chop him.
Eventually, Bennett gained the advantage but got thrown into the ring post by the man from Scotland. The action spilled back into the ring and Bennett gained control. The match slowed down with Bennett keeping Drew on the mat. Drew eventually came back with head butts and a flying clothesline from the top rope. Late in the match, Galloway stomped in the corner and hit a big drop kick. Galloway applied a submission but Maria put Bennett’s foot on the rope. Bennett snuck up behind Galloway and rolled him up for a three count…..
Earl Hebner was introduced and asked his thoughts on the fans in London. He said they were great and then walked back up the ramp….ok…..
4. Eric Young defeated Damo O’Connor to retain the King of the Mountain Title. Young had an open challenge for the King of the Mountain Title. Young won via piledriver…
5. Kurt Angle beat Bobby Roode. Roode made his entrance alone. Angle came out to the biggest pop of the night. He gestured to the whole crowd, and the match was on. Both men felt each other out to begin with with a cagey start. Angle got the better of the early exchanges. The crowd chanted “We love you, Angle, we do.” Roode was kept on the mat in the early going of the match but Roode came back a knee to the mid section. It was Angle’s turn to be kept on the mat. Angle got to his feet and both men charged at each other and hit a double clothesline. Angle got to his feet first but Roode came back with a spinebuster.
Roode climbed to the top but missed with his attempt. Angle his three back suplexes in a row for a great reaction. Angle applied the ankle lock, but Roode escaped and threw Kurt shoulder first into the ring post. Roode applied a crossface, which Angle reversed into an ankle lock but Roode reversed as well back into the crossface. After breaking the hold, Angle charged at Roode, only to be put back into a crossface. Angle broke the hold and hit an Olympic slam on Roode for a close two count. Late in the match Angle locked in the ankle lock, but this time laid it in fully and got the submission victory….
After the match, both men hugged mid ring. Roode made a beautiful speech and Angle cried. The crowd chanted “thank you, Angle.” James Storm came down the ramp and got in the ring. He said all he wants to say is thank you to a TNA legend. He said to him his friendship is priceless. Beer Money opened beers and Kurt said no, so they pulled some milk out. Funny. Kurt poured the milk with most of it going all over him.
The Wolves came out to join in the celebration. They said some nice things about Angle. They also built up the match for The Wolves against Beer Money which will be tapped at the tapings on Sunday. I don’t know when the show will end as far as television is concerned, but this was a beautiful, genuine moment that Kurt was obviously touched by.
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Wolves vs Ospreay/Andrews &
Jimmy Havoc vs Abyss/Monsters Ball have potential
![ohhh :ohhh: :ohhh:](https://www.thecoli.com/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/ohhh.png)
Surprised they booked Havoc properly from the start, Hopefully they keep him and Ospreay.